Apprentice jockey Jacob Opperman was a big winner at the 2020/21 Limestone Coast Racing Awards held online in October, taking out both the Apprentice and Jockey of the Year.
The awards are a celebration of the racing year for the clubs within the Limestone Coast. All awards were voted on based on performances at race meetings across the, Bordertown, Millicent, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, and Penola racing clubs.
Based at Mount Gambier, 18-year-old Opperman was thrilled to accept the awards.
“I was going well before the season started and I was getting good opportunities which helped,” Opperman said upon accepting his awards.
“I have been over to Victoria with Darren Weir, which was a great experience to ride in Melbourne.
“I’d like to thank Dad and Mum who have been a big help to me. Sue Murphy has also always been a great supporter putting me on if I claim or not.”
Based in Naracoorte, trainer Sue Murphy took out the Leading Trainer award following another strong season which saw her finish with 14 wins and 31 placings.
“Racing down the South East is getting stronger each year and more prizemoney means you still have to have quality horses in the races,” Murphy said.
Ricky Bruhn won the Leading Restricted Trainer award, with four wins across the 2020/21 season, taking the Mount Gambier native’s total career wins to 190.
Horse of the Year for performances outside of the Limestone Coast went to the Lee Creek-trained Royal Mile. The 4-year-old gelding has had a very impressive start to her career with five wins from 10 starts. Four of those wins coming from as many starts.
Cuban Toonite won the Horse of the Year for performances on the Limestone Coast award. The Sue and Jason Jaensch-trained gelding had six wins on the Limestone Coast during the season.
We are still early in the new season, and there is plenty of racing to see across the Limestone Coast for 2021/22 which can be found here.